Not Aiming for Lifetime Gold

[mviy]

I think it is much harder than it should be for Gold members (including LTG) to secure Classic Reward Seats and points upgrades, but it’s certainly easier than for those with lower status.

It’s the sweet spot for LifeTime status that provides significant benefits for frequent flyers.

Lifetime Platinum on the other hand is set at a level that is unachievable for most. Realistically most people with LTP will probably have easily obtained and retained P1 without even needing to try for many years going far beyond the minimum SC required for that status level consistently. Very few flyers do that. Most flyers never obtain P1.

 

[SYD]

It was words in the title about LTG being the "Holy Grail". They made me chuckle and raised my curiosity. The more I read the more amused I became.

You probably missed the context that when LTP was introduced, everyone quickly realised that it would be out of reach to most of us.

Someone who attains WP and then just keeps it each year will take 61 years to get to LTP! Now, of course there’ll be the years leading up to the first WP and some years earning much more. But that’s still maybe 50yrs….

Prior to LTP, peeps here used to ponder what might happen at 28,000 LTSCs (2x LTG). Usually, nothing.

Anyway, LTG is the “Grail” for those who want to get off the hamster wheel. It may will become even more handy as “unbundled” Biz fares (no lounge access etc) become more common and probably eventually reward biz seats loose lounge access also.

 

[QantasGonza]

Incorrect, if you have Points Club or Points Club Plus (awarded predominantly based on ground points earn) you can indeed earn Status Credits on Classic Award flights.

Noting that Points Plus Pay award flights have always earned SCs too.

Thank you for bringin that to my attention, and whilst I don't earn or burn as many points these days as I once did, I do earn enough for me to be a points club member and yes, you are right. On checking a trip to Fiji I did in fact receive 7 SC's each way - Hallalooya!
As intimated previously, I prefer the old days when there was no pre-requisite to earn status credits to reach a particular tier. If you earned the points you reached that tier. All points were equal, no matter how you earned them or who awarded them. After all, qantas was paid to dish them out.

 

[Lynda2475]

Given it is a frequent flyer program I have no issue with awarding status from bum in seat flying. Those that fly a lot are more valuable to the airline than those who shop a lot at ground partners then look to redeem flights on partner airlines.

 

[QantasGonza]

You probably missed the context that when LTP was introduced, everyone quickly realised that it would be out of reach to most of us.

Someone who attains WP and then just keeps it each year will take 61 years to get to LTP! Now, of course there’ll be the years leading up to the first WP and some years earning much more. But that’s still maybe 50yrs….

Prior to LTP, peeps here used to ponder what might happen at 28,000 LTSCs (2x LTG). Usually, nothing.

Anyway, LTG is the “Grail” for those who want to get off the hamster wheel. It may will become even more handy as “unbundled” Biz fares (no lounge access etc) become more common and probably eventually reward biz seats loose lounge access also.

Thank you - I couldn't have said it better myself - "Hampster Wheel" - which is what I [foolishly] tried to warn people about in an earlier post. And whilst I am totally pee'd off with Qantas and now in recent days have re-focused on some other FF memberships I am thankful, to an extent, that I bought a Q club lifetime membership years ago when you could, but even that is not always seamless.

 

[QantasGonza]

Given it is a frequent flyer program I have no issue with awarding status from bum in seat flying. Those that fly a lot are more valuable to the airline than those who shop a lot at ground partners then look to redeem flights on partner airlines.

possibly so Lynda, but it wasn't always that way.
When you make a change, those adversely affected have a right to complain when prior benefits are not recognised which is just one of the reasons I came on here.
Qantas are price gougers, much worse than Woolies or Coles ever were.
Qantas continue in a variety of different ways to devalue the QFF points & benefits, as I recently discovered on a recent classic flight booking to bali that involves Jetstar.
Seat selection is no longer included as it once was - you have to pay $$.
Next it'll probably be checked baggage.
As for bums on seats being more valuable, you would expect so, though a a couple of years ago when Alan Joyce was banging on about getting government support during covid or they faced liquidation, various financial analysts opined that the QFF business was more valuable that the flying part of the business. Makes you wonder?

 

[RichardMEL]

I prefer the old days when there was no pre-requisite to earn status credits to reach a particular tier. If you earned the points you reached that tier. All points were equal, no matter how you earned them or who awarded them. After all, qantas was paid to dish them out.

Can you please explain what you mean by this?

Points and SC's are different beasts.

What "prerequisites" are you referring to?

 

[leadman]

You probably missed the context that when LTP was introduced, everyone quickly realised that it would be out of reach to most of us.

Someone who attains WP and then just keeps it each year will take 61 years to get to LTP! Now, of course there’ll be the years leading up to the first WP and some years earning much more. But that’s still maybe 50yrs….

Prior to LTP, peeps here used to ponder what might happen at 28,000 LTSCs (2x LTG). Usually, nothing.

Anyway, LTG is the “Grail” for those who want to get off the hamster wheel. It may will become even more handy as “unbundled” Biz fares (no lounge access etc) become more common and probably eventually reward biz seats loose lounge access also.

I'm now entering my fifth LTG period! (There was nothing from QF on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, but I didn't expect anything) And once complete, just to make it a marathon, QF make you do another 5,000 SC lap for the LTP award. I've done the projections and it's about 8 years away at my current rate. If I make it, that will be 32 years after leaving AN. After reading the Royal Debate above, I'm starting to treat it as a game to see if I can make it, running a few spreadsheets and projections, including SC value, cost of flights, time to do it, etc (e.g. Mel > Syd @10sc $180 = $252,612 and 1403 flights taking 175 days). A bit of fun, but as you know other factors can bring everything tumbling down, like health!
And its on my own dollar.

 

[QantasGonza]

I think it is much harder than it should be for Gold members (including LTG) to secure Classic Reward Seats and points upgrades, but it’s certainly easier than for those with lower status.

It’s the sweet spot for LifeTime status that provides significant benefits for frequent flyers.

Lifetime Platinum on the other hand is set at a level that is unachievable for most. Realistically most people with LTP will probably have easily obtained and retained P1 without even needing to try for many years going far beyond the minimum SC required for that status level consistently. Very few flyers do that. Most flyers never obtain P1.

Agreed! So imagine how one who had amassed a lot of points but who no longer qualifies for gold feels when trying to book a classic reward, after everyone else has been given first crack?
Of course, what else has not been highlighted is that the allocation of classic reward seats has not kept pace proportionally with the growth of the QFF scheme.
It's still only 5million per year, but wait there's more!!
All QFF members reJoice! [pun intended - after all, it's his legacy]
Qantas have released 20 million "Classic Plus" seats.
And what does that mean?
It means you need to burn more points to buy them that\n you otherwise would with "classic"

 

[RichardMEL]

Agreed! So imagine how one who had amassed a lot of points but who no longer qualifies for gold feels when trying to book a classic reward, after everyone else has been given first crack?
Of course, what else has not been highlighted is that the allocation of classic reward seats has not kept pace proportionally with the growth of the QFF scheme.
It's still only 5million per year, but wait there's more!!
All QFF members reJoice! [pun intended - after all, it's his legacy]
Qantas have released 20 million "Classic Plus" seats.
And what does that mean?
It means you need to burn more points to buy them that\n you otherwise would with "classic"

Classic Plus rewards provide those opportunities for points rich (such as yourself) to attain rewards. In essence this is their response to the very problem you've pointed out. You may have an issue with the value propisition (as many do) but access to them is not limited to those with status, or rather those with higher status do not have "first crack" as you say, or have the ability to release reward seat release on certain circumstances.

And yes, QFF membership has exploded, up to 15m or so members. QF just doesn't have the capacity to offer proportionate levels of reward seats. The fleet has not expanded threefold....

 

[Lynda2475]

It means you need to burn more points to buy them that\n you otherwise would with "classic"

Whilst I only redeem classic awards, your statement isn't always true. When there is a red tail sale, a classic plus award in J can sometimes be cheaper than a classic award especially if NZ is your destination.

Whilst membership has increased a lot since launch, most members are not particularly active, and even NB can get domestic awards pretty easily.

Anyway this isn't the QF gripes thread there are plenty of those you can whinge on, best to get back on topic to discussing LTG. Something it is clear you do not intend to do.

 

[RichardMEL]

Mods: nicely done

 

[QF WP]

@RichardMEL, there is a thread for everyones' POV. There are always people who agree (or disagree) with an OP's assertions. But thread drift is happening eveywhere. so hiving off an OffTopic conversation is always best. We live but to serve.

@QantasGonza might be surprised with how many people have escaped the QF hamster wheel, myself included. Although I do intent to make it to LTG at some point, because there will be a point in time where QF is either the only airline operating the sector at a time (and cost) that suits me

 

[Balad2005]

Well, what a load of chestbeating! Congrats anyway if that's what floats your boat. I've been a QFF member since inception and not remotely close to life time gold, though did make silver for a time [I hate all this use of abbreviation & codes] yet I've rarely paid for flights for nearly 30 years, as well as using my points to enable others to fly. Never had the time to get to the airport hours early just to drink some fizzy either, but along the way was inaugurated into Etihad Gold which was a lot less onerous than Qantas, as was Skywards on Emirates. Frankly I'm over qantas and am gradually moving away to Star Alliance & Velocity. Fed up with the continual devaluation of points value by a variety of means including status credits and coughty transfer values etc etc - talk about price gouging a group of people that were once considered valued customers - all brought on by qantas hunger for $$$'s selling points to corporations - a bigger earner than actually flying. I guess I shouldn't whinge too much as it has been good over the years, but latest gripe is an upcoming trip to Bali from Brisbane. Flights booked via Qantas website but direct flights difficult. For the pleasure of being shunted via Sydney or melbourne for hours on end they want more points and higher taxes. Managed eventually direct outbound and via Cairns on return only to find that seats are not included anymore - $66 bucks extra. no way qantas - I'm gonza

I know what you mean I was once platinum then gold now lifetime silver.Going OS with a One world carrier you get minimal QF points and can earn more status on a domestic flight than to London

 

[QantasGonza]

Classic Plus rewards provide those opportunities for points rich (such as yourself) to attain rewards. In essence this is their response to the very problem you've pointed out. You may have an issue with the value propisition (as many do) but access to them is not limited to those with status, or rather those with higher status do not have "first crack" as you say, or have the ability to release reward seat release on certain circumstances.

And yes, QFF membership has exploded, up to 15m or so members. QF just doesn't have the capacity to offer proportionate levels of reward seats. The fleet has not expanded threefold....

Well Richard, I don't share your sympathies - I'm beginning to think that you're qantas' CFO and I'm no longer as rich in points as I once was.

Also, I concede to your contention that I have been playing the game - just a bit differently to many people on here. Certainly not as seriously as some by the looks of things reading these posts.
It surprises me how quickly people respond - they must all be swanning away in the QF lounge or up on the poop deck of their respective sloops!
It seems that I was too busy to fully take notice of all the changes that Qantas introduced along the way - though I doubt I would have acted all that differently. LTG is not a holy grail for me and now at my age would be unlikely. I don't need it anyway.

Whilst still a QFF member [it's hard not to be] I have joined Virgin and am a little chuffed to see my points almost reach 5k after about a week, and also now with AC, which on the face of it seems like a more generous program, with full Star Alliance access plus a dozen or more other partners, including Virgin & Emirates.
So spread your wings fellow travellers - it's a big wide world out there - and it certainly doesn't revolve around qantas - with lots of other airlines that will take you further safely and in comfort!

Post automatically merged: Aug 8, 2024

I know what you mean I was once platinum then gold now lifetime silver.Going OS with a One world carrier you get minimal QF points and can earn more status on a domestic flight than to London

Agreed - have a look around - there's lot's to see and great deals outside Australia

 

[QantasGonza]

@RichardMEL, there is a thread for everyones' POV. There are always people who agree (or disagree) with an OP's assertions. But thread drift is happening eveywhere. so hiving off an OffTopic conversation is always best. We live but to serve.

@QantasGonza might be surprised with how many people have escaped the QF hamster wheel, myself included. Although I do intent to make it to LTG at some point, because there will be a point in time where QF is either the only airline operating the sector at a time (and cost) that suits me

Oh please!!!! Live to serve? I'm here to be served when I fly - but I certainly go above & beyond for my own clientele

 

[QantasGonza]

Whilst I only redeem classic awards, your statement isn't always true. When there is a red tail sale, a classic plus award in J can sometimes be cheaper than a classic award especially if NZ is your destination.

Whilst membership has increased a lot since launch, most members are not particularly active, and even NB can get domestic awards pretty easily.

Anyway this isn't the QF gripes thread there are plenty of those you can whinge on, best to get back on topic to discussing LTG. Something it is clear you do not intend to do.

On topic - goodness me! Do we need to take things so seriously?
Well, if you like listening [reading] to all that chestbeating - what can i say??
So far i haven't found those other threads - possibly [probably] because I haven't looked - not spending as much tome on here as some judging by the numbers of post counts under respondents names - crikey!

 

[drron]

Oh please!!!! Live to serve? I'm here to be served when I fly - but I certainly go above & beyond for my own clientele

Well you weren't around at the time but @QF WP was the @QantasGonza of 2006 with this thread.

The great points transfer to AAdvantage

Thought it best to start a new topic on this excellent idea (so as to keep another topic on another Forum actually on topic). I'll keep this topic updated so others can see why I'm doing what I'm doing and perhaps in time understand the benefits that I am chasing. 1.0 Current situation...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

So that was when i started my divorce proceedings from QFF. Then thanks to a warning from JonNYC over on Flyertalk warning that the then way of earning status was going to change I played the AA game hard. Every diner's point,HH point and rental card points went to AA. I earned my LTP with AA with the last 800000 points posted in less than 12 months.
My primary FF program has changed a couple of times since depending on the ease of getting higher status that corresponded with my planned flying.
Sometimes it has even been a different alliance. SQ had an offer that couldn't be refused when they offered KF gold for 250000 points deposited plus automatic renewal for another 50000 points. guess where my Amex points went. I will lose gold at the end of November but the majority of my flights in and out of Australia have been SQ awards. Plus F awards to LHR including suites on 1 occasion and to the USA.

I have finally switched my domestic flying to VA. Possibly the divorce from QFF will be granted.
But I am fully aware I have been playing games but games that work for me. The QFF game was Pointless (pun intended ). I have been able to fly on better airlines for a lot less cost.

 

[Lynda2475]

On topic - goodness me! Do we need to take things so seriously?

Well the mods agreed and removed your off topic posts to this new thread.

Well, if you like listening [reading] to all that chestbeating - what can i say?? So far i haven't found those other threads - possibly [probably] because I haven't looked

Nothing to do with it, there are hundreds of threads on a myriad of topics, just find the right one. You will find plenty of like minded QF haters, some have already found you here.

People have different wants from a frequent flyer program and different abilities (time, budget, interest) to play/leverage the different rules/hurdles.

- not spending as much tome on here as some judging by the numbers of post counts under respondents names - crikey!

IME the join date shown isnt accurate for some, I actually joined following Ansett collapse in Sept 2001, but when the boards were migrated, the date changed to a much later one when I started to engage more regularly.

But many members have been here for 1-2 decades; and have shared tips, experiences, gripes (not to mention the covid years where other social outlets were not available) so post counts grow naturally. Also the most prolific posters are retired / semi retired so have a lot of time on their hands.

But insulting how others choose to spend their time (maybe they are sitting on plane and dont fancy anything on the IFE) isnt an ideal way to introduce yourself.

 

[justinbrett]

Kind of odd to join a frequent flyer forum to flame frequent flyers.

Maybe there should be a spin of site - AOF, Australian Occasional Flyer